Loose-leaf binder.



R. KRUMMING. LOOSE LEAP BINDER.

' 1,049. APPLICATION FILED 1611,2126, 1906. Patented Feb. 2

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- Patented Feb. 2, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. KRUMMING.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION mm) mm. 26, 1906.

New", 17- c- THE NORR)IS PETER$ 50., WASH! REINHOLD KRUMMING, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, REINHOLD KRUM- MING, of Milwaukee, VVis'consin, havelinvented a Loose-Leaf Binder, ofwhich the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention'has for its object an improved form of binder of the loose-leaf type, such as is used for account-books, catalogues and other commercial books wherein a number of paper sheets are bound together temporarily and are subject to extraction and insertion from time to time.

The objects of my invention are to avoid certain practical difficulties which have been encountered in the construction of such binders so as to enable them to be made more cheaply; to provide certain novel facilities and conveniences in operation; and to construct them more strongly so that they shall be better proof against breakage.

One of the most important features of my invention by which I attain these objects is the attachment of the posts to the binderbody or clamping-bar. Heretofore theattachment has been such that, should the binder experience any considerable shock, as by falling edgewise upon the floor, the post would be broken off close to the clampingbar to which it was rigidly attached.

In my invention I provide a clamping-bar of more or less bendablematerial, towhich the post is so attached that in experiencing:

any such shock which produces a bending stress upon it, it merely bends the bendable material of the clamping-bar instead of breaking the post, and it can be readily bent back intov shape again. I

Another novel feature of my invention consists in the use in connection with a metal back-bar, of a pasteboard cushion which overlies the edge thereof under the cloth or leather covering of the binder and prevents the metal from cutting through such covering in case the binder-back be struck violently' against an object.

Another feature of my invention resides in the means by which the hinge is attached directly to the clamping-bar, whereby it becomes impossible to detach it.

Another feature of my invention consists in the novel arrangement of stop for limiting the expansion of the binder, which, however,

can be readily disengaged at any time when u the two halves of the binder are to betaken apart.

Another feature of my invention relates Specification of Letters Patent.

AppIication filed. March 26, 1906. Serial No. 308,168.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

to the construction of the posts and the means for clamping the two parts of a telescoping post together in rigid relation and more particularly in the improved construction of conical plug which I use for this purpose, which provides greater facilities for manufacture and less possibility of derangement than in previous constructions.

Another feature of my invention resides in the arrangement of the screw-head for such telescoping posts which is set entirely flush with the cover and thus prevented from raising the back above its proper level, and thus ceases to form an inconvenient projection at the back of the book, and also is prevented from scratching the table or desk upon which it may be placed.

The nature and principle of my invention will be best understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively an elevation from the inner side, an end elevation and a plan view on a small scale of a binder-back built according to my invention, the projecting part of the'hinge being cut away in Fig. 1 for clearness sake. Fig. 4 is an elevation on a much larger scale of one corner of one section of the binder-back from the inner side thereof; Fig. 5 is a trans verse section of the back'through the axis of one of the end posts, on the line 5 of Figs. 4 and 6; Fig. 6 is a reversed plan section of the parts shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section, also on a magnified scale, of the central portion of the upper section of the binder-back through the axial plane of the posts thereof, and showing also the center post complete, partly in section and partly in elevation; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through one of the endosts, that is, in a plane'at right angles to t at of Fig. 5,

showing also a modified form of screw-head;

Fig. 9 is a similar longitudinal section through the other end-post; Fig. 10 is a transverse section through the post shown in Fig. 8 on the line 10; Fig; 11 is a longi tudinal section through the lower end of the upper section of the post shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a transverse section thereof on the line 12, looking down; and Fig. 13 is a transverse section thereof on the line 13 looking In these drawings the customary outer covering of leather or cloth is omitted for greater clearness, and it will be understood that my binder, like others, is customarily l provided with such covering.

In these drawings every reference character refers always to the same part.

The binder herein shown is one of the telescoping back type, being formed in an upper and lower telescoping section designated A and B respectively. Each section is formed upon an angular metallic base 21 which is generally made of galvanized sheetiron, and to which the other parts of the binder, including the telescoping posts, are attached. 'Ihese posts in the present binder are three in number, designated 0, D and E respectively, the outer sections 0 (Z and 6 being attached to the lower section B of the back, and the inner post-sections 0 d and 6 being attached to the upper section A of the back. Heretofore this attachment has been made by securing the posts either by screw-threads or otherwise to a heavy bar, which was then riveted to the base 21 but in my invention the attachment is by means of a pair of thin, broad nuts 22, 23 which engage their respective post-ends by means of a screw-thread 24 formed thereon, and which lie on opposite sides of the base 21, through a hole in which the post-end passes, thus clamping the metal of the back between said nuts. In the old construction, and more particularly when the end of the post was threaded, a violent ar produced by a binder full of leaves falling upon the floor, for example, and striking against one corner, would cause a wrench upon the post, such as to cause it to break off at the base of the thread thereof, this being the weakest point; but if this should happen with a binder according to the resent construction, it would simply bend t e ductile metal of the back and the post would be bent correspondingly out of alinement and can readily be bent back into proper position; the metal of the base 21 being sufficiently rigid to hold it under all circumstances, but sufliciently ductile to submit to many such distortions Without suffering injury.

In order that the parts composing the back may be laid on flat and that the nuts 22 may not project from the inner face, I provide pasteboard filling-strips 25, 26, which are of the same thickness as or slightly greater than that of the nuts 22 and 23; these pieces 25 and 26 being secured in place by cement or otherwise, and being cut out, as at 27, Fig. 6, to form recesses around the nuts. The inner nut 23 may be and preferably is soldered permanently to the base 21 before inserting the post-section thereinto, the other nut 22 being used for clamping purposes, and the latter may also be soldered in place after tightening up, if desired, to prevent the post-sections from coming loose.

, Immediately over the pasteboard filling 26 is placed the hinge '28, the sameconsisting of a strip of stout sail-cloth or canvas, one edge of which is secured to the binder-back and the other forms a flap for the attachment of the covers 29 (as shown in Fig. 2). Heretofore it has been customary to secure. the flap by cement to the filling 26 or other part of the back-bar; but in my binder I provide rivets 30, each having a broad flat head 31, and the shank of each rivet passes through a hole in the filling 26 and the base 21, and is riveted down thereover as shown at 32, Fig. 7. A number of these rivets being placed along the back, the hinge becomes absolutely impossible of detachment except by tearing it.

Immediately overlying the hinge 28 I place a pasteboard cushion 33, which forms an important feature of my invention. '1 his cushion is folded down over the telescoping back portion of the base 21, as clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and, moreover, its edge 34 extends a small fraction of an inch beyond the edge 35 of the base 2], whereby the metal-edge 35 is shielded and prevented from cutting through the leather or cloth covering, thus injuring the appearance and integrity of the binder. In addition it makes the back more substantial and, being softer, prevents the covering from being worn so readily as if it were laid directly over the base 21, and it performs the further function of covering the heads of the rivets 30 so as to make a smoother face.

lhe cushion 33 will ordinarily form the exterior layer upon the bottom section B of the binder-back immediately adjacent to the cloth-cover; and it may in like manner form the exterior layer on the upper section A, especially where the clamping-scrcws 36 of the binder posts are provided with projecting knurled heads 37 as in Figs. 8 and 9; but in my preferred form I provide a further heavy filling layer of pasteboard 38 over the cushion 33, this layer having cut in it apertures 39 which form recesses to receive the heads 40 of the clamping screws, and thus they are. prevented from projecting beyond. the cover and scratching furniture upon which the book may be laid. 'lhe heads 40 are, as herein shown, formed separately from the shanks of the screws 36 and provided with threaded recesses ll which receive the threaded ends 42 of the screw-shanks, this, however, being not essential to my invention. Each head 40 is provided with a transverse slit or nick 43 which is appropriately shaped to receive the edge of a coin inserted into the nick to rotate the screw and release or clam p the post.

The end posts C E are clamping-posts,

while the central post D is a stop-post merely. Describing first the latter, the outer section is secured as before described to the base 21 of the lower section B of the binder-back, and it has around its upper margin an in- Ill) wardly extending flange 44 which cooperates with an enlarged head 45 upon the inner section d. The section d is not secured tothe base 21 by nuts 22 and 28,- as is the case with the other post-sections, but is screwed directly into the base 21 by a screw-thread 45, the base 21 being bored and tapped to correspond. The metal 21 of the base being very thin, it might appear that it could not be tapped effectively; nevertheless, I have found by experience that it will hold sufiiciently for the purpose in' view, which is merely to hold it against a direct pull, and not against any sidewise twisting. The thread 45 fits loosely so that the section d can be readily rotated'and unscrewed by the fingers. lhe section (if is inserted into. the

section d from the outer end of the latter,

and under it is inserted a light, short coiled spring 46, the o ening being thereafter closed by a plug 47 w ich is soldered orotherwise secured in place. spring 46 is to prevent the section d from retiring completely within the section (Z after it has been unscrewed, and to make it project slightly so that it can be readily grasped by the fingers without making it necessary to reverse the position of the post, to make it fall out. It'i's not intended to take the place of extension-springs such, for instance, as are shown in the patent to Volkert, No. 707,037, issued August 12, 1902, as suchsprings are not present in the binder here shown.

'lhe end-post C has its inner section 0 and a taper-pin 52 inserted in the hole so produced. (I find an ordinary brass shoepeg very convenient for this purpose.) The small end of such pin projects beyond the hole, and slides in a recess 53 which is a widened portion of one of the slits 48. It will be observed that this recess doesnot extend to the end of the post-section, but is closed by a shoulder 54 which effectively prevents the plug 41 from dropping out of place when the screw 36 is removed. At the same time, the pin 52, being taper, can not fall through the hole in the plug 49 even when the section a is removed from the section a, the large end of said pin being covered by the metal of the section 0 The post E is provided with a somewhat different form of clamping means, the same comprising a conical plug 55 fitting in the The purpose of the coiled end of the inner section 0 of the post, which is slit at the end as shown at 56 and 57. The

slits 57 are (as herein shown but not neces sarily) made broader than the slits 56 to receive the end of a pin 58 which is passed through a hole 59 bored longitudinally in the head of the plug 55 and secured in position by slightly riveting or burring down the end 60 of such pin. The pin 58 may consist of an ordinary'headless wire nail or brad. This construction enables the screw 36 to pass entirely through the plug 55 and to have a key 61 inserted through a trans verse hole in its end so as to prevent the screw 36 from being removed. Moreover, I provide the'plug 55 with a groove 62 at the base ofthe conical portion thereof, in which engages an internal lug 63 formed around the end of the section 6 so that when the plug 55 has been-once slipped into position it cannot fall or be pushed out, thus preventing the plug from becoming lost or disengaged, in those cases where no key 61 is used.

It will be understood that by rotating the screw-heads 37 or 40, the taper-plugs 49 and 55 are drawn up into the end of the inner sections a and e of the clamping-posts (land E so as to clamp said inner sections against the outer sections in Whatever position of extension corresponds to the number of sheets in the binder.

I do not wish it understood that my invention is limited to the use of all the above described features and constructions, for

some may be omitted and others may be varied or modified in various ways, as will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a binder-back, in combination with a bendable base thereof forming the support for. all the other parts and free to bend back and forth, a post-section secured to the sur face of said base at a point immediately adj acent to the end of the post. I

2. In a binder-back, in combination with a bendable base having a hole, a post-section having its end screw-threaded and passing throughsaid hole, and a pair of clampingnuts on either side of said hole.

3. A bincler-back-section of a loose-leaf binder comprising, in combination, a bendable sheet-metal plate forming the body of the back and supporting all the other parts thereof, said plate having a hole therein, a post-section having its end screw-threaded and passing through said. hole, and a pair of clamping-nuts on o posite sides of said hole securing said plate between them; said post being free to bend in any direction by bending said back correspondingly.

4. In a binder-back, the combination with a sheet-metal base having one or more holes therein, of one or more post-sections having threaded ends passing through said holes, a pair of nuts to each post-section engaging the threaded end thereof and clamping the base between them, and filling-strips having approximately equal thicknesses to said nuts covering the surfaces of said base not covered by said nuts.

5. In a hinder, the combination of a metallic base having holes therein, post-sections having threaded ends passing through said holes and having each a pair of nuts engaging said threaded ends and clamping the metallic base between them, filling-strips having approximately the same thickness as said nuts overlying the surface of the base not covered by said nuts, a flexible hinge-strip overlying said filling strips, and rivets passing through said hinge-strips and base and securing the whole together.

6. In a binder, the combination with an angular metallic base having holes therein, of post-sections having threaded ends passing through said holes, nuts engaging said threaded ends and clamping said base between them, filling-strips having thicknesses equal substantially to said nuts and covering the surface of said base not covered by said nuts, a hinge-strip overlying the filling-strip on the outer side and secured to said base, and a pasteboardcushion overlying said hingestrip and the rectangularly extended portion of said base and having an edge projecting slightly beyond the edge of said base.

7. A binder comprising, in combination, a pair of clamping-plates, a pair of sectional extensible posts having means for clamping them in any adjusted position whereby the binder is expanded and contracted, and means for limiting the expansion of the back comprising a third post made in two telescoping sections, each having interengaging means at their outer limit of extension and. one end of which is secured to each of said clamping-plates.

8. A binder comprising, in combination, a pair of clamping-plates, a pair of sectional extensible posts having means for clamping them in any adjusted position whereby the binder is expanded and contracted, and disengageable means limiting the expansion of the binder-back, said means comprising a third post made in two telescoping sections having interengaging lugs at their telescoping ends whereby they are prevented from becoming separated, one of said sections being permanently secured at one end to one of said clamping-plates and the other being detachably secured at the opposite end to the other clamping-plate.

9. In a binder, a teleseoping-post comprising an outer and an inner section, means for preventing the separation of said sections, means for releasably securing the end of one of said sections to the corresponding section or the binder-luck, and means for resiliently maintaining the inner section in a position slightly protruding from the outer section when releaser 10. In a binder, a telescoping-post comprising an outer and an inner section, means for preventing the separation of said sec tions, means for releasably securing the end o'l one of said sections to the corresponding section of the binder-back, and a short spring within the outer section which acts to resiliently maintain the inner section in a slightly protruding position when disengaged 'l'rom the binder-back.

11. In a binder, the combination with a binder back of an extensible post comprising an inner and an outer section sliding freely on each other in all positions, the outer section being pernn'rnently secured to one section of the binder-back and the inner section releasably secured to the other section of the binder-back, a head formed on said inner seetion, and an inner flange on the free end of said outer section which engages said head to limit the extension of the post.

12. In a binder, the combination with a binder-back of an extensible post comprising an inner and an outer section, the outer section being permanently secured to one section of the binder-back and the inner section releasably secured to the other section of the binder-back, a head formed on said inner seetion, an inner flange on the "free end of said outer section which engages said head to limit the extension of the post, and a short spring within the outer section acting to resiliently raise the inner section a short distance above its lowest position.

13. In a binder, in combination with a two-section back, an extensible post cornprising an outer section permanently secured to one section of the binder-back and an inner section having a screw-threaded end engaging with receiving threads in the other section of the binder-back; a head or enlargement formed on the free end of the inner section, an internal flange on. the free end of said outer section engaging said head, and a short spring which acts to resiliently hold said inner section slightly above its lowest position when disengaged from the binderback.

14. In a binder, in combinationv with a telescoping-post, the inner section of which has a longitudinally slit end and an internal lug 63 on the inner edge of said end, a conical plug in said end having a groove 62 engaged by said lug to prevent said plug from coming out.

15. In a telescoping-post for loosedeal binders, a taper plug having a pin secured thereto parallel to the axis and lying along the side of said plug, thus forming a projectscoping-post, the inner section of which has its end slit longitudinally, a conical plug in said slit end and having a screw-threaded bore, a clamping-screw having a threaded end engaging in said bore, and a pin to prevent rotation passing through and fixed in a longitudinal hole in the side of the larger end of said plug, the free end of said pin lying on the side of said plug and in a slit in the end of the post section.

18. In a binder, in combination with the inner section of a telescoping post, said section having a longitudinally slitted end, an

expansion-plug in said end, and interlocking means between said plug and endwhereby said plug may be inserted thereinto but is prevented from being withdrawn therefrom.

19. In a binder, in combination with the inner section of a telescoping'post, said section having a slitted end, a conical ex ansion-plug entering said end, and interloc ing projecting parts carried by said end and plug which while allowing said plug to be inserted in said end engage to prevent its withdrawal after such insertion.

20. In a binder, in combination with the inner section of a telesco ing post, said section having a slitted en a conical ex )ansion-plug entering said end, and interlocking projecting parts carried by said end and plug which while allowing said plug to be inserted in said end engage to prevent its withdrawal after such insertion, said interlocking parts apting also to prevent the rotation of said 21. In a binder-back, the combination of a leaf -holding ost, a pair of plate-shaped members rigidly secured at one end thereof in parallel planes at right angles to the axis of the post, and a bendable sheet-metal baseplate rigidly clam ed between said members and su portingal the other parts.

22. n a binder, a telescoping post comprising an outer and an inner section, the inner section having a split end, an expansionplug closing said split'end and adapted to expand it to clamp against said outer section,

screw-threaded means for drawing said plug 7 into said end to expand it, and independent means for holding said expansion plug against falling out of said split end.

23. In a binder, a telescoping-,post, the inner section of which has a s lit-end, a screwthreaded expansion-plug c osing said split end and adapted to wedge therein in order to expand it to clamp the inner against the outer section, a screw-stem passing through the center of said inner section and engaging the thread in said plug to draw it into said inner section, and means independent of,'-said screw-stem for holding said plug in place in said split end.

24. In a binder, a telescoping post comprising an outer and an inner section, expanding means carried by said inner section for clampin it against the outer section, an expansion-p ug closing the end of said inner section and adapted to operate said expanding means, means for moving said plug longitudinally to clamp the post, and means independent of the means for moving said plug for holding it in lace in said inner section.

25. A binderack-section com rising, in combination, a bendable or yiel ingsheetmetal baselate forming the supporting means for al the other parts and having one or more holes therein, one or more post-sections whose ends pass through said holes, a pair of clamping devices secured to each post-end on opposite sides of the holes throughwhich it passes and clamping said baselate between them, and flexible paddingevices covering said base-plate; Whereby said posts are ada ted to yield in any direction by bending t e metal of the baseplate adjacent to the end thereof.

26. A binder-back-section comprising, in combination, a bendable or yielding sheetmetal base-plate forming a su orting member for all the other parts andi fiaving one or more holes therein, one or more post-sections having threaded ends passing through said holes, a pair of nuts to each post-section screwed on said threaded ends on opposite sides of said base-plate and clamping the latter between them, and flexible filling-strips secured to the opposite sides of said base and havin recesses t erein to receive said nuts; said ling-strips being adapted to yield with the base-plate to which they are secured, whereby said posts are ada ted to yield in any direction by bending the metal of the base-plate adjacent to the end thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of March, 1906.

REINHOLD KRUWING. In presence of ALB. WALLBER, GEORGE W. CoLLEs. 

